c_scan

c_scan (VECTOR* pos, ANGLE* dir, VECTOR* sector, var mode);

Detects entities or other objects within a level segment.

Parameters:

pos	scan origin.
dir	scan direction angle.
sector.x	horizontal scan sector, or scan cone width in degrees (360 for a full sphere)
sector.y	vertical scan sector in degrees, or 0 for a circular scan cone.
sector.z	scan range in quants.
mode	scan mode (see below).

The following mode values can be set:

IGNORE_ME	Ignores the my entity; can be combined with SCAN_ENTS.
IGNORE_YOU	Ignores the you entity; can be combined with SCAN_ENTS.
SCAN_ENTS	Scans for entities within the cone, and triggers their EVENT_SCAN event.
SCAN_POS	Scans for camera positions placed in the level.
SCAN_PATHS	Scans for path start positions.
SCAN_NODES	Scans for path node positions.
SCAN_LIGHTS	Scans for static lights.
SCAN_LIMIT	Finds only entities with ENABLE_SCAN set, or only static lights whose range can reach the scan origin. Can be combined with SCAN_ENTS and SCAN_LIGHTS.

Returns:

Distance to closest object found, or 0 if no object found.

Modifies:

you	Pointer to the closest detected entity.
result	Distance to the closest detected object.
target	Position of the closest detected object.
bounce	Angle of the closest detected level camera position.
tex_color	Color of the closest detected static light.

Remarks:

SCAN_ENT scans for the object's origin only. If you have a large object, you will probably need to increase the scan range or add additional triggers around the object's circumference.
If any entity with ENABLE_SCAN set is found with it's center within the scan segment, it's event function is triggered with event_type set to EVENT_SCAN, result set to the distance and you set to the scanning entity, if any.
If the my entity has ENABLE_DETECT set, it's event function is triggered once for every detected entity. During the event, event_type is set to EVENT_DETECT and you is set to the detected entity. This way all detected entities can be enumerated.
To prevent that a scanning entity triggers itself, set IGNORE_ME.
The function scans through walls - so don't use it for gunshots (use c_trace for that). However it is very useful to open doors, set switches, detect or alert enemies, apply explosion damage and so on.

Speed:

Slow

Example:

function operate() // scan nearby doors or switches for operating them
{
 	me = player;
 	c_scan(camera.x,camera.pan,vector(120,0,200),SCAN_ENT | SCAN_LIMIT | IGNORE_ME);
}